Arrow Inferno
Chapter 104: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Visible again!

***

"I feel like such a failure right now," Deloris groaned. "That spell was airtight."

"This is Sylver, Alpha." The high priestess spoke up with an amused look. "He's just as innocent as he is powerful." She shrugged. "See how an uncorrupted mind would see something different from a corrupted one?" She asked. "Oh I think I know what you mean," Troy quipped. "It's like those cleverly designed artworks. Remember that painting we once saw of a woman going down on a man?" he asked his mate.

"Yeah, those artists are just mischievous motherfuckers," Philip chuckled. "After a closer look, we realize it was actually just a man reading a book?"

"Well, a child would have only seen a man reading a book at a first glance because they have a pure mind," Troy explained. "But a grownup...like Stan, would probably see Karma Sutra volume fifty-three."

"Please tell Troy I'm flipping him off right now," Stan told his laughing mate.

"Couldn't have explained it better myself, Troy darling," The high priestess chuckled as everyone laughed. "The kid saw the real thing that we all couldn't see, that's all."

"Wait, does that mean other kids could have seen him too?" Pete asked.

"Other kids were not birthed by my mate, Pete," Jeremy drawled, his smoldering gaze which was filled with so much love and pride fixed on Ryan. "Pay attention, Sir." And even as the others laughed, he mouthed 'I love you' to Ryan who just blushed.

"I've never seen a prouder father," Deloris murmured, referring to the pleased-as-punch Jeremy. "Your son is a powerhouse, Ryan." The look on the warlock's face was that of unadulterated reverence. "Now you see why it would have been a disaster to allow Enzo to have any link with him."

"I do," Ryan sighed.

"Deloris, kindly fix my mate, will ya," Will sighed.

"Aye, aye soldier," The warlock grinned. "Ready, people?" She asked the virtually salivating audience as she reached for Ryan's hand. The choruses of yes to her question were resounding. "Okay, here goes."

Both warlocks closed their eyes for some seconds. It was the enthusiastic roar that went up that alerted Deloris, Ryan, Will, and Stan that he was finally visible. Everyone rushed forward to hug Stan. He'd clearly been missed. Will looked on for a moment, amused but at the same time happy that all was back to normal.

'Babe, I've gotta go,' he told Stan on their mind-link. He had to go for a debriefing and then visit Sharon and her baby in the hospital.

"A moment, guys," Stan chuckled as he went back to Will. "I'll meet you at the hospital."

"Remember to ask Deloris to teleport you over as I'll have my car."

"Lip will drive me to the hospital with Jer and Paige to give us the chance to catch up." Stan couldn't help but notice how his mate's gaze stayed glued to his mouth as he spoke. He actually flushed. "Stop looking at me like that." "You have the most gorgeous lips," Will breathed, not caring at all that they were in a room full of werewolves who could actually hear what he was saying if they wanted to. "An amazingly kissable mouth."

"So I've been told," Stan sounded flustered. But then, only one person had the power to get him in that state with just his words. His mate.

"It's the truth." Will brushed his lips against Stan's. "I can't get enough of them."

Stan made the move. He brought a hand up to the back of Will's neck and went in for a full-on kiss. Will relaxed into it, welcoming Stan's tongue with a moan as it slid into his mouth. And right there in the conference room filled with pack members, the two kissed with so much passion a hush fell on the group. Even the usual teasing whistling was absent. When the kiss eventually ended, both men leaned their foreheads against each other's till their breathing got back under control.

"See you soon."

"I'll see you off to your car," Stan murmured, missing Will already.

"You don't have to." Will stepped away from his mate. "I don't want to be selfish. These guys here have missed you so you've got to spend some time with them. "I'll just blink to the car. See you all later, fam," he called out and then disappeared, leaving Stan to continue with his 'meet and greet'.

***

Stan stood in the doorway of Sharon's room in the hospital and watched his mate cradle his sister's baby in his arms. He couldn't help but think that Will was a pro when it came to babies. The tenderness and care with which the soldier handled the baby was just beautiful to watch. In fact, he was so engrossed in the baby that he didn't even sense Stan's presence.

'Want one?' Stan asked on their mind-link and smiled when Will's head shot up.

"You're here." He grinned. "Come and meet Ava."

"Oh, hi Stan," Sharon called out from the bed. "Come and sit by me." She patted her space beside her on the bed.

"Congratulations," Stan said as he entered the room. He placed the huge pink stuffed unicorn he was holding on the foot of the bed and then went to hug Sharon. "Where are Rodney and his dad?"

"They've gone home," Sharon responded, sitting up and leaning her head against Stan's shoulder. "They will come back later."

"When will you be discharged?" his eyes remained on his mate. Sharon didn't miss it.

"Tomorrow. He's always been great with babies," Sharon said softly.

"I'm terrified of them," Stan admitted.

"Well, my brother loves them. And they love him right back," She chuckled. "This one was screaming moments ago as though she'd just realized she's been kidnapped. Wouldn't stop no matter what I did. Then Ian came. And there was peace." Stan chuckled. "He must be a baby whisperer."

"I don't know what that is, but I agree." Sharon laughed.

"Want to hold her?" Will asked Stan.

"No, thanks."

"No balls at all," Will snorted.

"Oh, you know I have huge ones," Stan drawled.

"How about you stop discussing balls around my daughter," Sharon said dryly making the men laugh. "At least go closer and look at her."

"That, I can manage." Stan left the bed and went to stand beside Will. "She's so small," he whispered as he leaned over Will's shoulder and touched the baby's cheek. "So soft." Neither noticed when Sharon snapped away with her phone. 'You didn't answer my question.' He reverted to their mind-link.

'Yes, I'd want one,' Will said softly. 'Eventually. We could even adopt one. I don't mind at all. But it must be a baby. They smell so sweet.'

'Yeah, until they poop,' Stan snorted, eliciting a chuckle from his mate.

"Ian said you come from a big family, Stan," Sharon said. "So I assume you would want to add on?"

"I do and I intend to." Stan straightened up. "And speaking of family, three of mine are outside, hoping to say hello to you before they leave. Is that okay?"

"Of course, why did you leave them outside?" Sharon gasped. "Call them in, please." Sharon actually looked thrilled.

"Alright." But Stan made no move to go out or call anyone to come.

"Err...Stan?" Sharon looked at Stan. "Aren't you going to call them?"

"I have," Stan said absentmindedly, his focus still on the baby.

'Dude!' Will groaned on their mind-link.

"Oh, I told them to...come in after some minutes...if I don't come out." Stan quickly tried to cover up his blunder. They heard the knock then. "That should be them."